MONTCLAIR, N.J. (October 28, 2017) – The sixth-seeded Rutgers University-Newark women's soccer team traveled to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe and third-seeded Montclair State University this afternoon for an NJAC Championship Tournament First Round matchup. The home side came out on top, winning 3-0 to improve to 10-4-4 on the season. The Scarlet Raiders move to 9-10-1.

FROM COACH RUELA:
Montclair showed a will to fight and an eagerness to play. We had moments of determination to win but couldn't maintain that consistently. Still, it has been an incredible four years from our seniors having qualified for three NJAC Championship Tournaments and creating a lot of firsts for our program. This was another building block towards where we want this program to be. We are young and have a lot of talent eager to get on the field and make a positive impact.

Montclair State struck early, scoring at the 8:57 mark when a winger beat her defender down the right flank and sent in a low cross right around the six yard box. Sophomore Emily Beenders latched onto the pass and had her initial one-time strike blocked but her follow up found the back of the net.

Shortly after conceding, the Scarlet Raiders were right back on the offensive. After a couple passes sliced through the Red Hawks' defense, the ball wound up at the feet of senior Haley Savva. Savva took a few touches to create space and ripped a shot from just outside the box that clipped the crossbar, providing the visitors best scoring chance to that point in the 10^th minute.

MSU doubled its advantage in the 30^th minute. A run down the left side by junior Michaela Knoblock drew multiple defenders as she headed towards the 18. Knoblock saw her path blocked but was able to find sophomore Christine Mayorga who took a touch before hitting a screamer that went towards the left upper 90 and made it 2-0.

Rutgers-Newark had its best chance in the second period to cut the deficit in half when senior Nicole Gomez made a solo run down the left wing and beat her defender to the touch line. Gomez cut back inside the box and got the ball on her right foot but her effort was blocked by a defender.

The Scarlet Raiders had to play the final 25 minutes down a woman but kept competing. Gomez earned a corner after her blocked shot went off a Red Hawk defender in the 85^th minute and sophomore Heather Kosinski flashed a strike high from about 20 yards out in the 89^th.

Unfortunately, Montclair State tacked on one more with only 19 seconds remaining when a free kick skimmed off the head of an R-N defender and trickled in for the final 3-0 tally.

Senior keeper Diana Carvalho had a fantastic match, allowing the Scarlet Raiders to stay competitive while making nine saves and numerous other plays that do not show up in the box score. Montclair State rookie goalie Phoebe Bledsoe earned the clean sheet.